Ditch the pursuit of work-life balance, says this senior finance executive

Achieving work-life balance is a priority for many workers, but should it be? Jackie Bowie, a managing partner at financial risk management firm Chatham Financial, doesn't think so.

"When you're working full-time in careers, particularly in our business — asset management, consultancy, advisory — you are full on all the time," she told CNBC's My Biggest Lessons.

But Bowie doesn't consider that a bad thing. Instead, she believes the approach matters.

"If you're doing something that's really worthwhile to you, and you enjoy it, you just accept that sometimes it's going to be really hard work and you have to make sacrifices," she explained.

That doesn't necessarily mean you should work extra hours every time. She explained that instead of finding a balance on a scale, it's more like turning a dial.

"There will be times when maybe work demands less a little, and that's when you dial up the other aspects of your life — whether it's home life, family responsibilities, or just a little bit of time for you," Bowie said.

"What I found is, this constant pursuit of trying to find a work life balance actually drained more emotional energy," she continued. 

"So spend that emotional energy and just making sure that you prioritize when it's right to prioritize and accept that sometimes you're giving all to work, and other times, you're giving all to yourself."

This is just one of Jackie Bowie's biggest lessons. Watch the video above for more.